apologies that I am not in today. You won't be getting off lightly though! ;)
The work below needs to be completed during this lesson and for homework.
Today, you need to complete the following tasks to ensure you have a basic understanding of the key concept REPRESENTATION.
1. Revisit your notes on Hall and Dyer's theories, and make sure you understand them. Use internet research to help if not.
2. Find 1 more media text where you think there could preferred and oppositional readings (HALL's theory). Post this on your blog and explain.
3. List 3 groups of people who you think you could apply DYER'S theory to (ie - that we treat them according to the way the media teaches us to see them.
4. BARTHES has a theory that some representations are ROMANTICISED. He says that things are made to seem more perfect/fluffy/romantic than they actually are. Thus, the representation becomes almost mythological - it leaves reality and becomes almost a fantasy. His theory is called the 'Mythologies' theory.
5. Watch the opening to 'Legally Blonde': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UUKVPC4Fq4
6. On your blogs, list as many ways in which this representation of young women is romanticised/MYTHOLOGISED.
7. Now choose your own film opening to explore. Try to pick one which has some clearly defined representations of people or places. Answer the following questions:
- What/who is being represented in the opening?
- How is it being represented?
- Is there evidence of Dyer or Barthes’ theories in this opening? Justify, using detailed examples.
- Whose representation is it? Whose interests does it reflect? How do you know?
- Apply the theory of semiotics to the sequence: i.e. what are the signs and their associated meanings?
- What way do you believe you have ‘received’ the meaning of the film: through preferred or oppositional reading? (Hall’s theory) Explain in detail, using supporting textual reference.
Don't worry if you're not sure of any of this. Do as much as you can, and we'll talk it through on Monday.
Thanks, Mrs Field